Description: The Squad Mission Support System (SMSS) is a 6x6 ground vehicle leveraging robotic technologies for unmanned transport and logistical support for light, early entry and special operations forces operating at the squad level.�Its primary purpose is lightening the dismounted soldier's load and serving as a power management resource. The SMSS vehicle can navigate autonomously by itself without the intervention of a human operator assuring re-supply channels and casualty evacuations. Besides, the vehicle can also operate by remote control, tele-operation or by manual control. Lockheed Martin has been developing and testing this new robotic vehicle for the United States Army since 2008. Military utility assessment by the US Army is anticipated in Afghanistan in 2011.

The SMSS combines high mobility with terrain perception following the dismounted infantrymen without the use of location-disclosing beacons while being suitable for the asymmetrical and urban battlefields. In addition to the logistics support role, the robotic vehicle can also serve as a portable power solution complementing the NettWarrior Soldier technology package providing self-sustaining portable power and Soldier battery recharge. The portable solution is slated to enter the user testing phase in November 2010. The three primary roles of the current SMSS robotic vehicle are transport, mobile power and reconnaissance. Lockheed Martin is also working on an armed variant as well as improving its reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition (RSTA) capabilities.